The closest associate of Zelensky resigned following a corruption operation.

28.11.2025 19:36

Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions conducted a search at the office of President Zelensky's chief advisor and Chief of Staff, Yermak. Following the operation, Yermak resigned. This resignation means that Zelensky has also lost one of his closest associates.

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies conducted a search at the residence of President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief advisor and Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak. The country's two main institutions, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), stated that the searches were carried out under a court order.

RESIGNATION ANNOUNCED BY ZELENSKY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Yermak had resigned from his position following the operation. In a video message published on his official account, Zelensky confirmed that Yermak had submitted his resignation and stated that he accepted the decision to "prevent speculation and rumors."

Yermak, who is Zelensky's closest associate, is also the chief negotiator for the Ukrainian side in peace talks aimed at ending the Ukraine-Russia war. However, a large-scale corruption scandal that has emerged in recent weeks has raised allegations against several individuals close to the president.

In a statement on his social media account, Yermak said that NABU and SAP teams were conducting "procedural actions" at his home, and that his lawyers were accompanying the search. Emphasizing that he is "fully cooperating," Yermak stressed that he is not in a suspicious position. In a previous interview, Yermak had mentioned that the pressure for his resignation was "immense," stating, "The file is very noisy. Therefore, an independent and objective investigation free from political influence is necessary."

INTERESTING TIMING

The timing of the searches drew attention as it occurred during an extremely sensitive period for Zelensky and his team. The visit of U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to Kyiv by the weekend indicates that contacts are accelerating under the draft peace plan prepared by U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. officials are also expected to travel to Moscow next week.

Just hours before the searches, Yermak reiterated Kyiv's stance in an interview with The Atlantic, saying, "As long as Zelensky is president, no one should expect Ukraine to give up its territory. He will not sign such an agreement."

As the corruption case that has dominated the agenda in Ukraine this month unfolds, the investigating agencies have identified that some bureaucrats at the highest levels of government are involved in a corruption and bribery scheme amounting to approximately $100 million in the energy sector. NABU and SAP announced that attempts to influence state companies and receive bribes in energy firms have been uncovered. This situation led to the dismissal of two ministers in Zelensky's cabinet. It was reported that Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelensky mentioned in the corruption investigation, has left the country. Mindich was also one of the former partners of the Kvartal 95 studio, where Zelensky's acting career began.

EU WARNING TO KYIV

As high-level corruption allegations in Ukraine grow, a warning has come from the European Union to Kyiv. EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath stated in an interview with U.S.-based Politico that if Ukraine wants to join the EU, it must prosecute those involved in corruption in politics and business.

The Commissioner emphasized that member states would not support the admission of a candidate country that "fails to prove it has established an effective mechanism to combat crime at the highest levels of society." McGrath expressed that the reform process in Ukraine is "a journey," stating that he believes Kyiv has shown "every effort" in the fight against corruption and noted that he is in regular contact with the authorities on this matter.